The Mystic, the Doubter, the Pope and the Dumb Ox: The Fascinating Origins of Corpus Christi

Southern Fried Catholicism ^ | 6/7/2012 | Brad Noel

[DogwoodSouth]

Today, many throughout the Catholic Church celebrate a uniquely Catholic feast day: the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, better known by the Latin title "Corpus Christi." Though originally and traditionally celebrated on "the Thursday following Trinity Sunday," in parts of the Church where it is not kept as a Holy Day of Obligation (like here in the U.S.), the feast is transferred to the following Sunday. But in many parts of the world, Corpus Christi is celebrated today. In fact, in many European nations, today is a public holiday.

Tonight, Pope Benedict will preside over the Corpus Christi Mass at the ancient Basilica of St. John Lateran (which is actually the cathedral of Rome, for those of you who care – you do remember that the pope is the bishop of Rome, right?). After the conclusion of Mass, he will lead a Corpus Christi procession through the streets of Rome, ending at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

What is Corpus Christi?

Some of you might be a little rusty on your Catholic phraseology. Corpus Christi (Latin for “Body of Christ”) is a feast day that is uniquely and traditionally Catholic. It is a festive day that is set aside solely to honor our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. (What could be more Catholic than that?) What many may not realize is that the story of the origins of the Feast of Corpus Christi date back many centuries and it includes some unlikely characters: a mystic, a doubter, a pope and a big “Dumb Ox.”

[Revolting cat!]

I thought it was a joke:

The Mystic, the Doubter, the Pope and the Dumb Ox walk into a bar...

[ConorMacNessa]

When I was much younger, in the middle of the last century, The Ascension was celebrated on the Thursday forty days after Easter and Corpus Christi was celebrated ten days after Pentecost. That was the way things should be, but like many of the practices of the Catholic Church, the observance days were changed for no good reason that I can perceive.

To me, most of the changes made in the wake of Vatican II were wrongheaded and compromised the beauty of the Liturgy, the sanctity of the Eucharist and the mission of the Church itself. Just my $.02 - I don't expect many to agree with me, but that's my take on it.



Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Talisker]

I thought it was a joke: The Mystic, the Doubter, the Pope and the Dumb Ox walk into a bar...

Well, when you consider that the punch line is "eating his body and drinking his blood," followed by an entire catechism and years of study backed by stern admonishments to convince you that "Corpus Christi" ISN'T about cannibalism, vampirism or black magic...

... a lot of people DO think it's a joke.

But NOT funny.

[Slings and Arrows]

The Mystic, the Doubter, the Pope and the Dumb Ox walk into a bar...

...Martin Luther ducks.

[D-fendr]

“Dumb Ox” was a giveaway for St. Aquinas, but the rest of the history was unknown to me, including his liturgy.

Thanks very much for posting.